FSFE interview with Leena Simon

[Posted October 25, 2010 by corbet]

The Free Software Foundation Europe has posted an interview with Leena Simon. "I am fighting within The Pirate Party, as well as in the Freedom not Fear movement, for Free Software. In both movements a lot of people haven't understood yet how important Free Software is: FS does not really connect the one with the other. They are connected in different ways and I can also understand their critique about Free Software."

to post comments

FSFE interview with Leena Simon

Posted Oct 25, 2010 15:30 UTC (Mon) by MisterIO (guest, #36192) [Link] (5 responses)

I'm not so sure that it's good for The Free Software Foundation to support The Pirate Party, at least from a PR standpoint.

FSFE interview with Leena Simon

Posted Oct 25, 2010 17:14 UTC (Mon) by coriordan (guest, #7544) [Link] (3 responses)

(That's FSFE, not FSF)

RMS has published an essay about one problem with the Pirate Party's policies:
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/pirate-party.html

Personally, I see the Pirate Party as a party with an anti-swpat seat in the European parliament, so they're a good thing.

A seat doesn't win a vote, but, from working as a lobbyist in the European Parliament, I know that having people (member plus staff) in the parliament allows them to influence the debate if they know how to use their position right. I don't know the people behind the Pirate Party, but I know that Erik Josefsson is working with them, and he's an expert.

FSFE interview with Leena Simon

Posted Oct 25, 2010 17:39 UTC (Mon) by MisterIO (guest, #36192) [Link] (2 responses)

I know it's the FSFE, but isn't that just the european branch of the FSF? Anyway, just to clarify, I do personally support the pirate party, but that's irrelevant. I was just worried about the public image of the FSF, if you consider that the Pirate Party supports things like the Pirate Bay.

The FSF network

Posted Oct 25, 2010 17:46 UTC (Mon) by kirschner (subscriber, #62102) [Link]

The FSF, FSFE, FSFI, and FSFLA are sisterorganisations which form the FSF network. Each organisation has its own cultural background, and is legally, financially, and operationally independent.

FSFE interview with Leena Simon

Posted Oct 25, 2010 17:59 UTC (Mon) by coriordan (guest, #7544) [Link]

Other than the "pirate" terminology and the above-linked policy issue, I don't know of any clashes between Pirate [Party|Bay] and FSF.

FSF is against the "War on sharing", and Pirate [Party|Bay] is pro-sharing, so they seem to have the same policy there.

FSFE and political parties

Posted Oct 25, 2010 17:56 UTC (Mon) by kirschner (subscriber, #62102) [Link]

FSFE does not endorse a particular politican party, nor would we focus on one party only. We always explained Free Software to all democratic parties who would like to talk with us, and will continue to do so. The Fellowship interviews highlight a particualar Fellow of FSFE and her personal activities and points of view. There are interviews with Fellows who are part of other parties, other organisations and from different Free Software projects.